Air cleaner



March 10, 1936. H. E. ALTGELT AIR CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1953 March 10,1936.

H. E. ALTGELT AIR CLEANER Filed Sept. 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 reamed Mar. 10, 1936 2,033,368

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CLEANER Herman E. Altg'elt, South Bend, Ind., assignor to Oliver Farm Equipment Company, a-corporation of Delaware Application September as, 1933, Serial No. 691,28! 18 Claims. (Cl. 183-16) The present invention relates generally to air Icle ning device for internal combustion engines cleaners for internal combustion engines, but more in which the dust and dirt collected thereby may particularly to an air cleaning device for vebe removed without removing the liquid from the hicles such as tractors and the like; air cleaner.

Experience has shown that the greatest single A still further object of the invention is to pro-- factor which enters in the destruction andrapid vide a. novel and improved air cleaning device wear of the operating parts of an internal comfor internal combustion engines inwhich the dustbustion engine in connection with the operation and dirt is collected in a transparent container of tractors is the large amounts of dust and dirt in combination with a. lever actuated valve mechwhich enters through the suction of the carbureanism which permits the shutting oil of .the oil tor of the internal combustion engine and for in the cleaner proper and allows the dirt to be rethat reason various types of air cleaning devices moved from the transparentdirt collecting rehave been developed to a certain degree, but these ceptacle.

devices up to the present time have not been en- Another object of the invention is to provide a a tirely satisfactory because there is no means for novel air cleaning device for internal combustion the. operator to determine when it was necessary engine in which a novel arrangement of a screen to remove the dirt which had accumulated in the covered by a dome prevents a major portion of cleaner. 7 In other words, with air cleaners herethe dirt from entering into the air cleaner. tofore constructed, it was impossible to see wheth- A still further object of the invention is to proer or not the propertime had arrived'to remove vide a novel and improved construction of air 20 the dirt from the air cleaner and in most cases it cleaner in whichjthe-removable dome 017 cap thereis necessary to dismantle the entire air cleaner to of is provided with a measuring rod for measuring remove the dirt therefrom. vIn air cleaners herethe oil level in the cleaner- I tofore constructed, the manufacturer usually These and other objects are accomplished by stipulates that the air cleaners are to be cleaned providing a construction and arrangement of the at certain definite intervals. This instruction various parts in the manner hereinafter described is very unsatisfactory because the amount of dust and particularly pointed out in the appended collected in the air cleaners varies to considerable claims.

degree and is influenced by the wind, by the type Referring to the drawings: a

of soil in which the tractor is operated and bythe Fig". 1 is a fragmentary top planview of the 30 particular type of implement attached to or hood of a tractor having my improved air cleaner drawn by the tractor. For example, aspring embodied therein; J V V tooth harrow raises considerably more dust than Fig. 2 is across sectional view taken on the line abraking plow. Then too, inconnection with haf- 2-2 in Fig. 1;

vesting machinery, a combined harvester or grain Fig. 315 a fragmentary cross sectional view of 35 separator, develops more dust than other types of thevalve mechanism and dirt container showing harvesting machines. i the manner in which-the valve is closed andthe It is therefore one of the primary objects of dirt container removed therefrom; my invention to provide a novel and improved air Fig. 4' is -a side elevational view of the valve 40 cleaning device for tractor, engines which will mechanism and glass container;

overcome all these diiiiculties and provide a sight Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line. gauge which will immediately notify the operator 5-5 in Fig.4; x

of the tractor when the accumulated dirt should Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the be removed from the air cleanenwithout removing line 6-8 .in Fig. 2;'and any of the parts of the same. I Fig. '7 ,is a cross sectional view taken on the' -45 A-further object of the invention is to-provide' line 1-1 in Fig. 2. s I

a novel and improved air cleaning device for a In air-cleaners for the internal combustion .en-

tractor engine in which a single glass container gine heretofore constructed, both of the dry and forms a receptacle into which the dirt anddust liquid type, manufacturers givedeflnite instrllothe manipulation of the lever to discharge the quent intervals. These instructions are very undust and dirt therefrom without removing any of a satisfactory because under certain conditions.air the other parts of the air cleaner. cleaners fill up with dirt in 'a short time; while A still further object of the invention is to I under certain other conditions,- it is not necessary is collected and which can be readily removed by tions to remove the dirt from the cleaner at fre 50 provide "a novel and improved liquid type air to-empty the dirt out of the cleaner after'several 5 days of operation of the tractor. In other words, under favorable conditions, the dirt does not accumulate in the air cleaner rapidly while in certain other conditions, in a few hours the dirt accumulates in the cleaner to such an extent that the cleaner is unable to perform its regular function. With my improved type of cleaner, a transparent gauge or glass receptacle is provided in which the dirt collected is within clear view of the operator and at one glance it can be determined whether the dirt should be removed. This is readily accomplished by the single manipulation of the lever which releases the glass container from which the dirt can be removed and at the same time closes a valve to prevent the loss of the liquid in the cleaner.

In illustrating one form of my invention, I have shown the same in connection with a fragmentary portion of the hood Ill of a tractor in which my improved form of air. cleaner is shown, in the form of a cylindrical container ll attached to and secured to the undersideof the hood, at a point substantially the center thereof, and is generally indicated by the reference character ll. Secured to the cylindrical portion ll of the cleaner container and resting aroundthe periphery of the bottom I 2 is a coarse screen wire l3. Positioned above the screen It is a similar top screen i4. Compressed between these two l3 and I4 is an air cleaning fibre, generally indicated by the reference character It. Mounted in the axial center of the cleaner tending through an aperture It in the hood II and through the screens 13 and I4 as well as the fibre,

is an air tube, generally indicated by the reference character IT, The lower end of this air tube terminates at a point ll above the bottom l2 of the cleaner and is also submerged below the upper surface of the liquid or oil contained in the cleaner. The level of this oil or liquid is generally indicated by the reference character It. The air tube l'l extends'several inches above the top of the hood l0 and has secured at its upward end a downwardly extending conically shaped fine mesh wire screen 24. Friction'ally secured to the lower ends of the line wire screen 2. is a dome shaped or semi-spherical cap or cover 2|. Secured to the center of the dome shaped cap 2| is a downwardly extending bayonet or rod 22 which extends downwardly through the air tube "to a point short of the bottom i2 of the cleaner. 'Ihe lower end of this rod 22 is notched, as shown at 23, to indicate the low level of the liquid and also notched, as shown at 24, to indicate the high level of;the liquid in the cleaner. The bottom I 2 of the cleaner is provided with a central opening 23' which communicates withan'angularly extending tubular bracket 24. Formed integrally with this tubular bracket 24 is a valve chamber 25 which is cylindrical in form and assumes a vertical to one side of the cleaner proper. This valve chamber 23 is provided with a valve seat, as shown at 26. Reciprocally mounted inkthe upper portion of the valve chamber-25 is a valve stem 27 which has secured, at its lower end;a valve '28 adapted to seat itself on .the seat 26. The valve -stem 21. is reciprocally mounted in athreaded collar 29moun in threaded en agement with r 25 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 Formed integrally with the the valve cham of the drawings;

collar 23 andext'ending upwardly with respect thereto, is .a threaded portion 3|. Mounted-in threaded engagement with threaded portion 3| is a threaded cap 3|. Mounted between, the

the tractor. The stud 33 is wire screens proper and exr the conduit or pipe n p proper. This elbow 43 extends outwardly the air cleaner extends upwardly in the cleaner rangement of the s'creen in position at a point below and thereof where bottom of the.

1 which are heavier than ing washer 32. Pivoted as shown at 33, to the up-- per end of the valve stem lever 34. The pivoted end cated, as shown at 35, and has the bifurcated portion engaging the opposite sides of the valve stem 21 as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings Formed adjacent the pivoted end of the lever 24 is a cam portion as shown at 36, which is adapted to engage a washer 36 for lifting the valve stem 21 and valve 28 from its seat 26 against the action of a spring 31 mounted between the valve 28'and lower surface of the collar 29 as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Pivotally connected to the pin 33 and particularly on the opposite ends thereof is a substantially U-shaped bail member generally indicated by the reference character 31. The lower end of the U-shaped member 27 is a hand operating 31 has a plate 38 in which is reciprocally mounted at 40, which is adapted to engage a recess 4| in the dirt collecting container 42. This dirt collectof this lever is bifuring container 42 is preferably made of glass so that the amount of dirt collected therein, as shown at 42', may be viewed by theoperator of normally pressed upwardly by a compression spring 43 so as to resiliently maintain-the glass container 42 in its position shown in Fig. 4. The stud 33 is prevented from displacement on the plate 32 by a trans- .verse pin 44. The upperend of the glass container 42 is provided with an annular projecting flange, as shownat 45, which in turn is adapted to seat itself in an annular recess 46 formed in the lower end of the valve casing 25. sealed in this recess by felt packing 4'I. The-clean air inlet or conduit which draws the cleaned air from the air cleaner-includes an elbow 43 which in turn, has its .upper end the underside of the hood II at a point within the aircleaner the cylindrical wall ll of and is connected' by a second conduit gen indicated by the reference character 43 to the carburetor for supplying clean air thereto.

The operation of my improved air cleaner is. as follows: Let us assume that.the air cleaner is connected up in the manner shown in Figs. 1 andzofthedrawingsinwhichthealrlntake'plpe tractor, over which the cap or cup 2| covers a downwardly extending conically shaped screen of relatively fine m This arrangement obviously prevents large particles of dirt and insects from being drawn into the cleaner proper. The arthis manner eliminates a considerable portion of the dirt from entering the air cleaner because the large particles drop down from the side at the cap and are positioned adjacent through the hood ll of the The glass container is carried away by the wind, The air enters through the screen 23 in arrows in Fig. 2 wardly through the nianner-indlcated by the of the drawinsa-thenoe downthe air tube "to the lower end it passes through the cilia the to the bulged or curved bottom l2 and are discharged intothe snsulsrly posed ube '2 pass cleaner up through the oil soaked aosases with the seating of the valve for stopping the discharge of oilfrom the cleaner, the U-shaped member is lowered to. release the glass container from the recess 46 to discharge the dirt therefrom in the manner clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. After: the glass receptacle has been cleaned of accumulated dirt, it is then replaced on the beveled ing 40 of the stud 39 and-the lever ing an air cleaning liquid lmounted therein, -a-

is actuated from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 in which case the glass case is secured in positionand the valve 28 removed from its seat to the position shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noted in connection with my improved type of air cleaner by which the operator may observe the accumulation of dirt in the glass container so as to determine whether the cleaner should be cleaned or dirt removed therefrom, that I have also provided a measuring rod 22 which has markings thereon, indicated at 23 low level and the marking 24 indicating the high level be- .tweenwhich the amount of liquid in the container should be maintained. When the liquid is maintained at this level, it will beobserved that the lower end of the tube l1 and the lower portion of the fibre is submerged to insure a complete saturation of the fibre material within the cleaner. 7

From the above description it will be readily seen that I have provided a novel and improved liquid type of cleaner and one in which the accumulated dirt may be seen and removed therefrom without removing the liquid therein or without dismantling any of the parts of the cleaner proper.

-While in the above specification I have de scribed one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will of course be understood that the same is capable of modification and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz 1. An air cleaner comprising a container having liquid therein, a dirt collecting receptacle detachably connected thereto, means for removing said dirt receptacle from said container without removing the liquid from said container, and 7 means independent of said dirt receptacle for closing the communication between said container and said dirt receptacle. e

2. An air cleaner comprising a container having anair cleaning liquid moiintedtherein, a

removable-dirt collecting receptacle attached thereto through whichv the amount of dirt' collected. therein may be seen, means for removing said dirt receptacle and the dirt therein'without removing the liquid from said container, and means associated with said last namedmeans and independent, of said dirt receptacle for pre-' venting the liquid from being discharged from said container when said dirt receptacle is removed.

3. An air cleaner; comprising a container'havdirt collecting receptacle detachably connected at a point below said container through which the, amount of dirt collected therein may be seen, and means for automatically shutting off communication between said cdntainer and said dirt collecting receptacle and for simultaneously re-.

moving said dirt collecting receptacle.

4. An air cleaner comprising a container,having an air cleansing liquid mounted therein, said container having a curved bottom therein, a transparent dirtcoilecting receptacle connected .to the lowest point of saidbottom, means for moving said dirt receptacle without removing the liquid from said container, and means operated by said last named means and independent of said dirt receptacle for preventing the discharge of liquid from said container upon theremoval of said dirt receptacle.

5. An air cleaner comprising a container having a liquid in the bottom thereof, an air intake extending vertically into the cleaner having the lower end submerged in said liquid, a fibre ma-' terial mounted in said container having the lower portion-thereof submerged in said liquid, a dirt collecting receptacle attached to said container at a 'point below-said container, and means including a hand operated lever for closing the communication between said container and said -dirt"recepta'cle and for detachably supporting said dirt receptacle to said container.

6. An aircleaner comprising a container having a liquid therein, an air inlet conduit extend: ing into said container and having its lower end submerged in said liquid, a cap detachably connected to said airinIetconduit, and a rod secured tosaid cap andextending through said air conduit for measuring thelevel of the liquid in said container. 1

'7. An air cleaner comprising a container'having a liquid therein, an air .inlet conduit extending thereinto and terminating below the surface .of said liquid,'a downwardly extending conically shaped screen secured to the upper end-of said inlet conduit and a semi-spherical cap substantially encasing said screen for reducing the amount of dust and dirt entering said inlet condllit. 2

8." An air cleaner comprising a container having a liquid therein, a valve chamber communicating with said container and located therebelow,a dirt collecting receptacle attached to said valvechamber, a valve mounted in said valve chamber for closing communication between said valve chamber and said dirt collecting receptacle, and single manually operable means for controlling said valve and detachably supporting said dirt receptacle to said valve chamber. c

ing liquid therein, a. valve chamber communicating with and attachedto the lower portion .of

9. An air cleaner comprising a container hav said container, a valve mountedin said valvechamber, a dirt collecting receptacle detachably fastened to said valve chamber, a lever pivotally connected to said valve for actuating the same, and a substantially U-shaped member connected to-said leverfor detachably supporting receptacle-on said valve chamber.

10. An air cleaner comprising a container having a liquid therein, a dirt collecting receptacle 'detachably connected thereto, and a manually operable lever for controlling the comsaiddirt munication between said container and said receptacle and for detachably supporting said receptacle to said container. 11. Anair cleaner comprising a container having a liquid therein, an air inlet conduit extending into said container and having its lower ends submerged in said liquid, a cap detachably connected to said air inlet conduit, and a rod extending into said container for measuring the level of the liquid in said container.

12. An air cleaner comprising a container having a liquid therein, an air inlet conduit extend-' ing thereinto and terminating below the surface said dirt receptacle from said container without removing the liquid from said container and a rod extending into said container for measuring the level of the liquid in said containen 14. An, air cleaner, comprising a container, a

dirt collecting receptacle detachably connected 1 thereto and communicating therewith, and means independent of said dirt receptacle for closing the communication between. said container and said receptacle and simultaneously releasing said receptacle from said container.

15. An'air cleaner comprising a container, air cleaning means mounted therein, a liquid mounted in said container, a removable 'dirt collecting receptacle attached thereto through which the amount of dirt collected therein may be seen, said liquid extending from said container into said receptacle, means for removing said dirt receptacle from said container without removing the liquid from said container, and means independent of said dirt receptacle and operated by said last named means for closing the communication between said container and said receptacle.

, 16. The combination of an air cleaner formed as an integral part of an engine hood comprising a casing, and an air inlet conduit extending from above and projecting through said hood into said container.

17. The combination of an air cleaner formed as an integral part of an engine hood comprising a casing having liquid therein, and an air inlet conduit extending through said hood into said container and having its lower end submerged in said liquid.

18. The combination of anair cleaner formed as an integral part of an.engine hood comprising a casing having liquid therein, an air inlet conduit extending through said hood into said container and having its lower and submerged in said liquid, and means carried by said conduit for measuring the liquid level in said container.

HERMAN E. ALTGELT. 

